Approaching The Scene 308: Why Nikon's Zf & Z6iii's Manual Focus Modes Are Revolutionary
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- Опубликовано: 20 июл 2024
- (LINKS BELOW): I’m really excited the Z6iii has this built in like the Zf before it. It’s hard to overstate what a boon this is for manual focus lenses. I remember first reading the press release on Nikon’s Zf and wondering “what is manual focus subject detection?” I went digging and found that: the AF system will identify subjects (like eyes), track them, give focus confirmation (green box), and allow you to zoom to 100% to perfect focus while tracking them. Seriously? I instantly ordered the Voigtländer 50mm F1.0 Z-mount I’d tested and loved last summer. How well does this all work? Really well. Let me demonstrate with this video.
Nikon Zf: bhpho.to/44ZDiN1
Nikon Z6iii: bhpho.to/3LbtS9T
Voigtländer 50 F1.0 Nocton Z: bhpho.to/3X6lGNc
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LINKED TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Intro to ATS 308
01:00 The Zf & Z6iii’s manual focus subject detection is crazy
02:20 An example of it through my lens
04:00 The Zf’s LCD focus point movement is awesome too.
04:46 So many cameras could use this (looking at Leica!)
06:40 This capability feels like cheating with MF lenses
07:34 Join our next free Office Hours meeting 
Развлечения
Thanks for highlighting this manual focus subject tracking feature! I am considering either the Zf or the Z6iii, so it is great to know that they both have this capability.
Hudson, thanks so much for helping us get the most out of our gear. You’re amazing!
📷😎👍
Why hasn't Nikon backported this feature to the Z8/9? Too many other features to move that took higher priority? Or do they just not think pro camera users would find it useful? I feel like it'd be a good addition, especially for anyone using the Noct (all 2 of them :P)
I wish my Z8 had that and it is very annoying that Nikon doesn’t offer that on the Z8/Z9. I use the Voigtlander 40 f/1.2 all the time on my Z8 and it would make using it that much more pleasant.
I personally just use manual lenses on my Zf and not on my Z9&8
contact Nikon and ask for it, I did and already got several response emails.The more asking better chance of getting update
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😊@@kapurar
Always great info! I’m so thankful that I found you!
I wish my Z8 had this feature!
Fantastic video, thanks for sharing you knowledge
Was curious if the Z6iii got the manual assist mode. Z6iii + Voigt 50 1.0 now on the wish list. Very useful! Thanks🙏
I think that touch screen focus movement feature was also in the Nikon D5500, but was never added to any other Nikon camera until the ZF.
Love the ZF!!!!
Thanks for sharing Hudson!
This has got to come to my Z9, please! As always, thanks for the video.
Wow! What a find! This is perfect. Especially better with 8k!
I have the Z 6lll ordered and do have the D 850 and Z 7ll. I would love this feature to come to the Z 7ll as well. I used several Carl Zeiss lenses, 135 apo sonar and the 21mm Distagon ZF2 mostly. As much as I like the Nikon glass there is something about Zeiss glass
So, gob-smacked. THIS feature (or, rather, the lack of this feature) has sent me on a Quixotic quest through camera after camera. I LOVE manual focus. I use auto focus, of course, but when you want or need manual focus, you want the camera to help you, not make it harder. This feature makes me want the new Z6 so much.
Greeting from Macau. Thank you for your explanation. Your daughter is really really ADORABLE.
This will be great for my 58F0.95 NOCT !!!
100%
I thought immediately, 'NOW I'm going to buy the NOCT." :)
The Noct is so big and heavy compared to the Voigtländer 50 1.0. The Noct is a beast to hold and manual focus. It's also intimidating to subjects. Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely, fun, collectible thing. That said, having used then both... Gimme the Voigt. ;)
This could be a game changer for those who are constantly frustrated by MF lenses. I watched your recent video on Voigtlander lenses and saw your frustration show through due to MF challenges. Most of my lenses are Voigtlander and I think this will create a few more converts to these wonderful lenses. Thanks for sharing.
It's made me LOVE the 50 1.0 which I purchased the second I read about it on the Zf launch.
Hope this will come to the Z8 and Z9!
YOU CAN'T HAVE THE SAME FEATURES IN TWO DIFFERENT CAMERAS and only cut megapixels as a difference for 1,000$ less.
When people gonna learn, that it would make no sense? They will add it of course, but to Z8 mark II. Probably PRE-CAPTURE in RAW too, only to Z8 mark II.
@@pentagramyt417 Your comment suggests that the *lower* price camera should have a feature and the more expensive ones should not?
@@UnconventionalReasoning time difference? You can't release one camera and update firmware by adding a new features to it every time LOL.. Manufacturers are to earn money, not to satisfy people. If they didn't add a feature to a expensive camera, but added to the newer version with less expensive costs, that mean, the more expensive camera will have it to, but in newer version, so Z8 mark II will have that feature, simply as that.
@@pentagramyt417 "You can't release one camera and update firmware by adding a new features to it every time LOL." Who says? Nikon has done that quite a bit with the Z8 and Z9. Part of earning money, especially for a company like NIkon which sells back into its customer base, is to satisfy people.
The Z8II is probably two years away.
Very handy to know this
Z6iii on preorder. Can't wait to use my Leica lenses on this unit. The Nikon sensor cover glass is thinner than Sony, so less CA. Sadly, although there has been noise about a EVF M, I doubt that Leica will produce such a unit as M- messucher- means rangefinder. Of course they could put it in an SL, but that form factor is a bit large.
I think Lieca will have to. Just like Porsche had to create a hybrid 911 to keep pushing performance for a new generation, Lieca will have to offer an M varient with an EVF to keep the line relavent for a new generation. The success of the Q line is screaming that fact to them.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Yes, Leica should collaberate with Sony or Nikon to get the processor and make a Q like form factor that accepts M lenses. Few photographers have the patience to master split image focusing and we are dying out or losing our vital acuity.
I think the Q proves they know how to do it better than Nikon and Sony. 😂 I want them to look at how the Leica system works. Except for autofocus tracking of course, they are behind in that.
Hello
Thanks for your video
I’ve read somewhere that this eye tracking in MF mode works only with electronic lenses with connectors ?
Can you confirm that this feature works with any ai lenses or M lenses without 6 bit coded what so ever ?
@@DidierMOULINPhotography Incorrect. I just retested that to be sure with a 50 year old 105 2.5 AI that I adore. Spots the eyes, zooms to the eyes just like the latest Voigtländer Z. It doesn't give the green confirmation, but it's the automatic eye detection with zoom to 100% while tracking that really makes the difference in nailing focus. That ability to pop in and out without moving a tracking point at all or holding still is mind bending.
Canon R ecosystem has been doing this since day 1. I shoot different Zeiss Milvus, and this technology makes manual focusing a breeze.
My experience with a month testing the R5 was that it will put a point on the eye and showed green in full sensor view when manually focusing, yes. But, it did not track the eye at 100% zoom with a button press keeping it centered as I perfected focus zoomed in fully. Have they added that too? If so, then kudos to Canon too. That's the part that feels like cheating with the Zf and a lens like the 50 1.0 Voigtländer or the Nikon 58 .95 S Noct.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto can't speak for the R5 but my R3 does it
I'm glad I watched this. I thought I knew what you were talking about, but I didn't.
Dude, I can often relate to those words. The wiser I get, the more that's true. ;-)
I went a bit bonkers last year and bought 5 ZEISS Milvus lenses (used but in perfect condition) for my Nikon D850 and I've been struggling with hitting focus. I can zoom in but only on the back LCD and it's a bit clunky of a workload. Although I primarily do landscape on a tripod I have been getting into more street as well and something like the Zf might help get me past the frustration as they are beautiful lenses.
This new feature has me excited as well. Good days ahead for us!
I can’t believe this isn’t being more talked about! I’m in the process of acquiring a 28mm Thypoch Simera and have been struggling to figure out how to make a non-chipped lens work with eye-detect and focus indication. It seems that there are a few M-Z smart adapters out there that can make this happen (TTArtisan chipped adapter and the Techart will work)… could be a great subject for a video… that 28mm Simera rendering looks incredible.
I have the ZF and the 28mm Thypoch; however, I cheated and got the Techart AF adapter. Works great! I do have a TT Artisan tilt lens that isn’t chipped. And the MF subject detect works great as well.
@@JimScooler thank you, Jim! May I ask what focusing mode you put the camera in order to get focus detect to work when using the non-chipped adapter?
@@JimScooler hi again… I was able to get eye detect to work with my Z-mount Simera… but the I’m not getting focus confirmation, insofar as the focus point doesn’t turn green when it is focused. Does that work for you on your TTArtisan?
I stand corrected. Subject detect works but no focus confirmation. I use the focus zoom to confirm. Techart adapter is chipped, so AF and MF with focus confirmation works. Sorry for the confusion.
@@JimScooler no need to apologize at all!!! You’ve helped me confirm that I’ll need to send the z-mount lens back and get the m-mount instead… I’ve been trying to figure this out for days, so a huge thanks! One downer is that I prefer the updated focusing ring of the Z-mount version better… it doesn’t have the infinity lock and focusing tab… but small price to pay to get that focus confirmation. How do you find the handling? The images that are coming off this lens so far are beautiful. Again, a massive thank you for your help!
Have you tried the Techart TZM-02 autofocus adapter? I find it’s a neat way to get close with manual focus then let the AF adapter get you the rest of the way. I half-action the shutter release while manual focusing until the adapter takes it home. The AF range is limited but for a touch up focus while manually focusing, it’s fairly decent.
No I like manual focus on the old lenses. I like it even more now.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto no worries, i appreciate the comment!
When this appeared in the Zf, I really hoped it would be a firmware update to the Z8/Z9. Still waiting and hoping...
Hi Hudson. Many thanks for another great tutorial. Quick question: are you using the Voitlander lens with an adapter, or does it have a Z mount? Many thanks.
Z mount: bhpho.to/3X6lGNc
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Wow! That's one beautiful lens. Thank you.
Manual focus subject detection is implemented in Canon's RF bodies since years ...
I use this while shooting with Voigtländer RF lenses.
My experience with a month testing the R5 was that it will put a point on the eye and showed green in full sensor view when manually focusing, yes. But, it did not track the eye at 100% zoom with a button press keeping it centered as I perfected focus zoomed in fully. Have they added that too? If so, then kudos to Canon too. That's the part that feels like cheating with the Zf and a lens like the 50 1.0 Voigtländer.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto The box follows the eye and the focus indicators give continuous feedback of the acquired focus status within the box.
I would have trouble doing the composition desired when it goes dynamic, and I just see a zoomed in crop which follows my motive, but milage may vary.
So when it comes to dynamic scenery I prefer the RF 50mm 1.2 over the Nokton 50mm 1.0.
(May I say to love the Nokton 40mm 1.2 even more?)
Hi Hudson - nice video! Question? How do you set up the feature to move the focus box with the rear screen on the Zf? It is not set up as a default and after a short cursory look in the menus I didn't see it - maybe you can let us know where to find that in the menu? Thank you! :)
-PD
Custom Settings > Controls F4 All that is in my complete setup guide video.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Thank you! :)
One issue I've had with the voightlander and the zf is the shutter speed. 1.0 on a sunny day and 100 base ISO is limiting to get the creative effects I want without an ND filter. Hoping (at least with electronic shutter) that the faster shutter on the Z6 iii helps. Otherwise I'm loving that ability.
3.0 ND Kase lives there on sunny days for me.
I don't understand why this wasn't pushed as an update to the Z8/Z9. I had a Zf, but something about the ergo didn't work for me so got a Z8. Still use my Voigtlander 40mm f/1.2 Z on there, and it shines, but this would be helpful. I'm actually considering getting the Z6iii for this sole reason, but that is incredibly wasteful. Unless there is something about the new IBIS system that prevents this from getting to the Z8/Z9, it should be pushed to those.
I don't disagree (except for the ergonomics of the Zf which I adore with the smallrig grip). Make sure you tell Nikon you'd like that. I sure have.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto I bought that grip and still didn't love it. Also I found out that even with owning and still shooting film cameras, on digital, I prefer the speed and expediency of changing shutter speed and ISO with the command wheels. Or maybe it was just the Zf. For me, the manual experience on digital is all about the weight/feel/size/focus experience of the lens. Changing ss and iso without taking eye from the VF proving highly beneficial. I'll look at the Nikon site to see if there is any feedback place to send my opinion, but I'm just one guy
The cool thing about the Zf is that you can operate it fully in command dial mode or with the wheels up top. Just pop them in 1/3 stop and c and it's just like any other Z. But if you don't like the ergonomics, then you don't. I personally find it PERFECTLY blananced with the Voigtländer 50 1.0. Just email them through the Nikon USA link. Enough people do that and they'll take note.
Hi. I have a question about the this manual focus subject tracking feature. Does it work if you put some old auto-focus Nikon D glass on the camera? I ask because we lost the auto-focus capability for these lenses in Z bodies. I have kept two of my all-time favorites to use on my DSLRs (the 85mm 1.4 and the 200mm f/4 macro). How I'd love to resurrect my 85 for portraits if the camera can take care of the focusing in manual mode, given that it's released in firmware for my Z8.
It won't give the green square confirmation, but... It will track the eye and let you zoom in to 100% at the press of a button while continuing to keep the eye centered as you nail critical focusing. It's the zoom part that matters most honestly.
That's a pretty cool feature. How many manual focus lenses out there support this feature, and how much do they cost?
My 50 year old 105 2.5 on the FTZ and every other lens in the cabinet... The old non chipped lenses don't give green confirmation but they detect and track eyes and let you pop zoom to 100% while tracking. That's the money part. It's all sensor. Not lens. Any lens in manual focus mode does it. Even AF lenses.
Will this work with vintage lenses? Or do you need to have electronic contacts on the lens.
It certainly does, but not the green square. It detects, tracks and zooms on a button to focus at 100% while tracking an eye with or without peaking. I tested with my 50 year old 105 2.5 AI.
How to you turn on the focus control on the lcd while looking through the evf.
p. 62 of the manual: "When [ON] is selected for Custom Setting f4 [Touch Fn] > [Enable/disable touch Fn], you can use monitor touch controls to adjust settings while framing pictures in the viewfinder. Touch Fn is available only when the monitor is in storage position with the screen facing outward."
@@pitmanra you deserve a Klondike bar.
Glad you asked about this... Mine was on by default but ended up being "nose" focus selection so turned it off after my nose against the screen kept moving my focus point around. Just went back and looked at it again and realized I could select what portion of the screen was active. Don't know how I missed that the first time around. Master eye is my right eye, so making only the right half (rather than full screen) of the screen react to touch. Works really well. Good stuff!!
It's in my full setup guide.
So, does this feature work with Nikon AI-S lenses and the FTZ adapter? I've heard mixed reports that lenses with electronic contacts are needed. Would love to see PROOF before I buy. Short video showing EVF please please?
It absolutely works for tracking the eye and zooming in, but you do not get the green confirmation box. Honestly it's the instant zoom to the detected eye and tracking of that eye as you focus that matters. I tested it for other's asking the same question in the feed (answers are there too) with my 105 2.5 AI from the 70s. Worked great. Sorry, not going to do another video. You'll need to trust me.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Many thanks!
What nikon needs to add is trap focus ( release only when in focus ) for manual focus mode
Hmmmm, I could see that being really annoying for anything but still subjects. Sometimes the decisive moment vastly outweighs focus perfection.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto you can turn it off in the settings. but its really useful actually, I have this working with tt artisan 6 bit adapter and adapted manual lenses, and itworks well, even for moving subjects, and when I don’t want it I turn it off.
I really want Nikon to make retro styled, electronic connected, MF lenses in some of their classic Nikkor combos….2025 versions 105mm f2.5 or 35mm f1.4 anyone?
I love my Voigtlander F mount lenses on the Zf, and would love a Z mount Voigtlander 40mm f1.2 but cannot find them anywhere in Canada at the moment!
The 50 1.0 is the money lens. So amazing. I liked the 40 1.2 till I tried it.
I want a105 plena with AF. I still love and use my 105 2.5 AI on the FTZ.
I have the Voigtländer 40 1.2, 50 1.0 and 75 1.5 native z-mounts, they are absolutely wonderful on the Zf. As Hudson says, the 50 1.0 is a superb lens in all respects, I do enjoy the dual nature of the 40 1.2 as a travel lens though….and then, the 75 1.5 reminds me a bit of the older 105 2.0 DC in how it renders. Just less LoCa.
Out of interest, what happens if you choose focus priority for shutter release in manual focus mode? Does it prevent shutter release until you have manually focused and got a green square, that would be cool…😎
Nope, thank goodness. The decisive moment is almost always more important that perfecting focus in manual focus situations. Focus priority only applies to afs & afc, not MF. I for can't imagine using that for moving subjects. It would be frustrating.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto thanks for the confirmation, just waiting for my ZF to arrive to go with my Voightlander 50mm F1.0, currently using on the Z9 which of course doesn’t have the subject detection in MF 🙁
Just picked up a ZF and can't get this to work with any lens. All I get is the small, typical red MF box that will turn green for focus conf. The camera never finds human eyes. Is there a setting buried to flip this on?
@@scotttucker9613 yep. Detailed in my full setup video with timecode links in the full description.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto I was missing a buried setting of course. Thanks!
It would even be greater if it took the photo automatically when the box is green, even at multiple frames per second, just to be able to not bother about firing the shutter while focusing manually
I'll agree to disagree on that one. :-) I prefer to choose the shutter timing myself.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto me too but Focus trap is a great alternative for manual focusing. I mean if the photographer is already framing and focusing, the camera just takes the photo on time (it exists on some older DSLR cameras so why not on such advanced Z cameras ?)
It's certainly nothing I'd ever want to use, but I'm certainly not against it being an option for others.
That 50mm F/1.0 barely leaves my ZF great lens.
Yep! No truer words. It's crazy amazing.
Wait, title says the Z6III has it, but the video confirms we don’t know on the Z6III yet?
And I don’t mean to sound negative, just want to clarify.
I had a long sit down with Nikon about the Z6iii before it was announced, but after I shot this video (it's been in the can for over a month) and they assured me that it does. I also put a title card in to showcase that during this video when I talk about the Z6iii. Look for the blue banner confirming that it does have it. I also have the company spec sheet for it which confirms that. I did a video last week at the announcement and explained that. I can assure you it has it. :-)
@@HudsonHenryPhoto awesome. Thanks. I was listening and not watching so didn’t see your popup. Again, didn’t mean to sound the way my first post pay have seemed. Thanks for confirming. Your vids have helped me a lot.
No worries at all!
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Hudson, do you know if you're able to customize the line width of the focus square on the Z6iii like you can on the Z8? I found that it made a big difference in finding the focus point when viewing the LCD in daylight conditions.